Medical ultrasonography is an extremely versatile variety of imaging technology. It has become a medical institution. Using obstetric sonography to see developing fetuses has become a rite of passage for many families. Medical ultrasonography is primarily used in diagnosing diseases, since it helps researchers get a closer look at the inner organs and muscles of patients. There may be other medical applications for ultrasound, which researchers are currently investigating. Ultrasound may be able to directly address medical problems, as opposed to simply providing new evidence for diagnoses.

Radial Shockwave Therapy

Radial shockwave therapy involves applying ultrasound acoustic pressure waves directly to tissues, which may help trigger the bodys biological healing mechanism and improve the rate and extent of tissue repair. There are certain conditions that would be more appropriate for radial shockwave therapy than others. Radial shockwave therapy is increasingly being used to treat conditions characterized by inflammation and pain, such as osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, bursitis, stress fractures, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, calcific rotator cuff, and anterior tibial syndrome. As such, it has numerous applications for sports medicine, where such conditions are relatively common. Elderly people or those with chronic conditions could also benefit from radial shockwave therapy. Pain patients may find pain relief in an unexpected place.

The treatments themselves will involve fairly brief sessions involving high pressure. For some people, these sessions may be uncomfortable, albeit not usually painful. People should usually take it easy for up to two days after their treatments, and they may be slightly discomforted afterwards. The treatment will have benefits that last, although they may not be immediately visible until months later. Having the right expectations for radial shockwave therapy will make the experience better for the patients and practitioners.

Complications

In certain cases, patients may have conditions that make radial shockwave therapy inadvisable in combination with them. It is certainly not appropriate for people in sensitive populations, such as pregnant women and people under the age of eighteen. Anyone who is suffering from cancer or related conditions, certain coagulation problems or heart diseases, certain complications from diabetes, or taking certain medications should not engage in radial shockwave therapy. In some cases, the problem area may be too inflamed, or in an inconvenient location with sensitive nerves and blood vessels. Technicians should be made aware of their patients medical history, and will most likely go through the list of appropriate medical conditions at the right time.

Within two weeks, the side effects should be gone, particularly if patients take it easy for two days following their sessions. The long-term benefits of radial shockwave therapy, combined with its minimal side effects, make it a viable option for many people.